Breathing apparatus



Nov. 26, 1940. 1-, F. WRIGHT BREATHING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1938 v Thomas E Wri ht INVENTOR M 2m (Patented Nov. '26, 1940 I. UNITED [STATES ,PATENTQ OFFICE 2,222,971 BREATHING APPARATUS Thomas F. wright, Rochesten N. Y. Application May 24, 1938, Serial No. 209,704

- 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a breathing apparatus or mask of the type which includes a face-piece that covers the entire face of the user. One object of the invention is the provision 6 of a mask which provides the wearer or user with unobstructed vision over along period of continuous use. Another object of the invention is the provision of a mask of this type in which the.ex-.

- 2 lens surface at a temperature and humidity close to that of the outside air. 1

Yet another ob ct of the invention is the pros vision of a mask of the type described which isrelatively simple in construction, and adapted 25 to be worn for long periods without fogging of the lenses.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations, all as will hereinafter be more fully described, the

novel features being pointed out in the'claims v at the end of the specification.

In the drawing: Fig-1 is a rear view of a breathing apparatus or mask constructed in accordance with the pres- 35 ent invention;

Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view taken through a the mask substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,.

showingthe arrangement of the various parts;

= Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional viewtaken on the line 3-3-'of Fig. 2, showing the relation of the various parts of the eye compar' .mask; and up Fig. 4 is asectional view of a one-Wa valve positioned between theeye and mouth compartresults from both the presence of the perspirathrough the eye compartment: mouth compartment. 'halation ceases, the o tment of the ments ofthe mask, showing the arrangement suffer from perhaps the greatest of the skin of the user.

tion on the adjacent skin surfaces of the -user,

and also from the moisture present in the exhaled breath. Many masks attempt to overcome this difficulty by the use of rubber deflecting'tubes which,pass the incoming air across the inner surfaces of the lenses. While this arrangement has proven somewhat successful, it is effective for only, short periods of time. Eventuallythe rise in temperature and humidity from exhaled air and perspiration causes over with condensed moisture. V

In order to overcome these disadvantages, the present'invention provides a gas,mask,- the.in-

I terior of which is divided into separate eye and mouth compartments. The eye compartment is 15 provided with flanged rubber cups which flt "tightly around the eyes of the user so as to effectively exclude substantially alr perspiring skin areas from, communication with the eye compartment. Air communication between the compartments is by means ,of a one-way valve which freely opens during inhalation to permit the fresh outside air'to be drawn over the lenses, andv into fuhe When, howeve the e-way valve automatically closes to cut' off urther communication between the compartments so that the moist exhaled air in the mouth'compartment cannot recirculate back. intothe eye compartment to fog the lenses, but is discharged through a suit- .able exhaustvalve, of well-known construction,

all of. which willbe hereinaftermore fully def scribed.

The drawing shows a breathing apparatus or mask constructed in'accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. This mask comprises a face-piece. I,preferably rubber, pro-'- vided with a plurality of flexible adjusting straps 2 for fitting the face-piece to the user, as is well. known. In the present embodiment, the mask is provided, with a goggle construction which divides the interior of the mask into an upper eye compartment- 4 and a lower mouth compartment 5.

This goggle construction comprises a pair of viewing lenses 6 which are connected by a flexible rubber member or diaphragm 'I;to a pair of flanged rubber-cups 8 adapted to surround the eyes of the user. the cups 8 to theinner surface of the face-piece I, see Fig. 1, in such .a position that when the :straps 2. are drawn up for adjustment, the peripheral flanges -ll of the cups 8 are pressed against the lenses to" 08 10 Elastic'bands 9 extend from The cups 8 are formed 10 cups 8 effectively exclude substantially all the perspirin'g skin portions from direct communica-' tion with the eye compartment.

' Air is'supplied from'a purifying canister, not

shown, through a flexible hose l3 which enters 15 the hose branches in the form of a Y, each branch l4 leading to the inner lower edge of one of the viewing lens 8, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus the-fresh incoming air is first passed over the inner surfaces oft-he viewing lenses. The air then passes through the eye compartment 4, and then through a one-way check valve, generally indicated by the numeral l5 and hereinafter described, which is built into the bottom of the flexible member or diaphragm 1, as shown in Fig. 4. After passing through the one-way valve, the air then entersthe mouth compartment 5 and is available for breathing purposes. The moisture laden exhaled air is then discharged through a flutter valve of well-known construction.

In order to accomplish present invention it is essential that the valve readily open during inhalation to permit the fresh incoming air to flow from the eye to the mouth compartment, yet quickly and automatb cally close when inhalation ceases to prevent any moist air in the mouth compartment from cir- 46 culatlng into the eye compartment and thus tending to fog the lenses 6. It is also important that such a valve freely operate even when moist. It has been found that the type of'valve illustrated in Fig. 4, and to is admirably adapted for this purpose.

- An opening IS in the diaphragm 1 is reinforced by a pair of flat annular and I8 arranged on opposite faces of the diaphragm 1, as best shown in Fig. 4. A dish-shaped member I9 is positioned below the member l8, see

Fig. 4, and is provided necting strips 20, in the present instance three, which extend'upwardly from the member l9 to engage the member 18.

22 in the members I! and I8 and pierce the diaphragm I, and are bent'over, as shown at 23 Fig. 4, to clutch the ends 2| and to securely maintain the parts in assembled relation, as shown in Fig. 4. A flat valve member 25 or disk is are ranged to engage the washer l8 and to close the opening I 5 in the diaphragm 1, the washer l8 providing a valve seat for the valvemember 26. The latter is held in place against-the washer I8 5 by means of a coil spring 2! which interposes between the member 26 and the dish-shaped memher, [9, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. The valve member 26 -is thus.resiliently helg against its valve seat. When" the user inhales, a slight vacuum or reduced pressure is created in the mouth-come partment'5. This vacuum, .although quite small,

is suflicient to caus e'the' valve member 25130 move away from its valve seat, the washer I8, against the action of the spring 21 to permit fresh air to the bottomiof the mask and extends into the mouth compartment 5, see Fig. 2. At this point the purpose of I the.

be presently described.-

members or washers l1 with a plurality of con' n The reduced ends 2| of 5 the strips 20 extend throughregistering openings the lenses 6, as is apparent.

air is then expelled through a V free air circulation from said eye to said mouth be drawn through the flexible hose l3 and the eye compartment 4 to the mouth compartment 5. When inhalation ceases, normal pressure is re-' stored in the compartment 5, and the valve member 26 is forced against the washer l8 under the 5 action of the spring 21 to close the 'valve. As the valve I5 is now closed circulation of the moist or humid air in'the mouth compartment 5 cannot circulate into the eye compartments 4 to fog The moist exhaled fluttervalve I0 of well-known construction.

It is thus apparent from the above description, that the present invention provides a mask construction which provides unobstructed -'vision for a long period of continuous use. This result is secured by (I) preventing circulation of ,moist air from the mouth compartment to the eye com-' partment, and (2) by reducing to a minimum the perspiring skin area exposed to the viewing lenses.

While onejembodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is contemplated that the inventive idea .may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is therefore, notto be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

'1. A breathing apparatus comprising a face piece, a pair of interocular spaced lens members mounted in said face piece, flanged rubber cups surrounding the eyes of the user and formed with a pair of interocular spaced openings of such size as to frame said eyes, a flexible member having one end secured to'said cups adjacent the periphery thereof and the other end secured to the inner surface of said facepiece adjacent said lens members to divide the interior of said face piece into separate eye and mouth compartments, means for supplying outside air to said eye compartment, resilient means connecting said cups to said face piece so that when the latter is adjusted on the user the cups will be drawn tightly against the skin area surrounding said eyes so that only the latter will be exposed to said lenses so as to thus reduce to a minimum the perspiring skin area in communication therewith, and a one-way valve mounted on said member and adapted to connect said compartment in fluid communication, said valve comprising a movable member adapted to be automatically moved to open position when the user inhales to permit 55 compartment, said movable member being also movable to a valve closing position upon completion of said inhala'tionto prevent reverse circulation from said mouth to said eye compartment.

2. A breathing apparatus comprising a face piece, a pair of interocular spaced lens members mounted in said face piece, flanged rubber cups surrounding the eyes of the user and formed with -a pair of interocular spaced openings of such size as to frame said eyes, a flexible member having one end secured to said cups adjacent the periphery thereof and the other end secured to the inner surface of said face piece adjacent said lens members to divide the interior of said face 7 piece into separate eye and mouth compart- 70 merits, means for supplying outside air tosaid eye compartment, resilient means connecting said cups to said ,face piece so that when the latter is adjusted'on the user the'cups will be drawn tightly against the skin area surrounding said 7? eyes so that only the latter will be exposed to said lenses so as to thus reduce to a minimum the perspiring skin area in communication therewith, and a one-way valve mounted on said member and adapted to connect said compartment in fluid communication, said valve comprising a statlonary valve seat and a spring actuated valve member adapted to engage said seat, said valve member being movable away from said seat when the user inhales to permit free air circulation from said eye to said mouth compartment but automatically moving into engagement with said seat under the action of said spring to close said valve upon the completion of such inhalation to 5 positively prevent reverse circulation from said mouth to said eye compartment.

THOMAS F. WRIGHT. 

